Matt Bixler has been appointed as the new Fire Marshal for Mecklenburg County, effective October 6. Bixler brings over two decades of experience in fire service, law enforcement, and emergency services, including expertise in fire, arson, and explosion investigations.
Bixler’s background in public safety is influenced by his family. His father worked in law enforcement and helped establish the first ambulance service in East Windsor, Connecticut. Other family members have also served in fire departments, including his brother with the City of Charlotte Fire Department and his son, who was a junior firefighter before joining the U.S. Navy.
“Being around it, you catch the love of it,” Bixler said. “You have purpose and meaning in life when you’re serving others and making sure your community is safe.”
Since 2018, Bixler has served as Deputy Fire Marshal with the Fire Marshal’s Office (FMO). He previously worked as a Deputy Sheriff with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office and as a firefighter in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Fire Department.
“You’re dealing with people on the worst day of their life, whether it’s a house fire or a car accident or another emergency,” Bixler noted of his time in the field. “You’re there to do what you can to make their life better.”
In his new role, Bixler will manage the FMO, oversee new construction and mandated inspections, plan reviews, investigations, public education, and outreach programs. He will also act as a liaison to fire departments throughout Mecklenburg County and its towns.
“I have the same mission of being of service, it’s just in a different capacity where it allows me to get ahead of issues in the community,” said Bixler. “Our office identifies fire hazards, finds common themes affecting a certain neighborhood or business demographic, and educates people. We enforce the code to increase life safety.”
Bixler holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire, Arson, and Explosion Investigation from Eastern Kentucky University and is pursuing a Master of Science in Fire Executive Leadership in Public Administration. He is a certified fire investigator, certified fire and explosives investigator, and participates in several professional organizations. Additionally, he serves on the executive board of the Mecklenburg County Firefighter’s Burned Children Fund and volunteers with Cornelius Fire Rescue.
Mecklenburg County schools enrolled a total of 153,537 students in the 2022-23 school year, a slight decrease of 0.4% compared to the previous year, according to data from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (https://www.dpi.nc.gov/).
